Monday, April 13, 2009

Hi There

Nevermore

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.'Tis some visitor,' I muttered,tapping at my chamber door - Only this, and nothing more.'

[03:33:05] Spectre3353 > hi![03:33:22] AviatorNo1 > hi had to run for obvious reasons...lol[03:33:29] Spectre3353 > we r trying to help[03:33:51] AviatorNo1 > dude im tired of going it alone. how do I get into a corp that will allow me to work in low sec space.[03:34:00] Spectre3353 > absolutely yes[03:34:01] AviatorNo1 > sure u r....lol[03:34:07] Spectre3353 > yea its ok we will help[03:34:08] Spectre3353 > one sec[03:34:09] Spectre3353 > take this invite[03:34:35] Spectre3353 > ok[03:34:43] Spectre3353 > ill show u where we gather[03:34:48] Spectre3353 > right click golden helmets name and warp to him[03:34:59] Spectre3353 > wait hold on[03:35:02] Spectre3353 > hes still warping[03:35:21] AviatorNo1 > k[03:35:32] Spectre3353 > ok warp to golden helmet now[03:35:54] Spectre3353 > how many warp core stabs do u have?[03:36:13] AviatorNo1 > moe than one[03:36:15] Spectre3353 > cool[03:36:17] Spectre3353 > that is good[03:36:21] Spectre3353 > they protect u around here, we use them a lot[03:36:42] AviatorNo1 > how do i get into your corp[03:36:45] Spectre3353 > well[03:36:53] Spectre3353 > i have to interview u[03:36:58] AviatorNo1 > k[03:37:02] Spectre3353 > first question[03:37:06] Spectre3353 > how long have you been playing?[03:37:16] AviatorNo1 > a couple of years off and on[03:37:18] Spectre3353 > cool[03:37:23] Spectre3353 > do you have a lot of money?[03:37:43] AviatorNo1 > I have this ship a badger a merline and 14mm more

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore.

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtainThrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -

[04:51:49] Tavala Evaneska > Well I dont have 150 mil isk so I guess you are going to kill me but why?[04:52:01] Spectre3353 > because this is our system[04:52:05] Spectre3353 > stay out of it[04:52:08] Spectre3353 > or pay us money to use it[04:52:12] Spectre3353 > thems the rules[04:52:16] Tavala Evaneska > how was I suppose to know?[04:52:25] Spectre3353 > you werent[04:52:26] Spectre3353 > but now you do[04:52:58] Spectre3353 > 50 million for your pod[04:53:00] Spectre3353 > 30 seconds[04:53:02] Spectre3353 > or you get podded[04:53:16] Tavala Evaneska > All I have is 14 million[04:53:23] Spectre3353 > give me 14 mil and you can go[04:53:28] Spectre3353 > 20 seconds[04:53:46] Spectre3353 > 10 seconds[04:54:06] Spectre3353 > youre free to go[04:54:10] Spectre3353 > it was nice doing business with you[04:54:11] Spectre3353 > fly safe![04:54:17] Tavala Evaneska > why do you do this?[04:56:40] Spectre3353 > it makes me feel like more of a man[04:56:56] Tavala Evaneska > Are you kidding?[04:57:23] Spectre3353 > no[04:57:26] Tavala Evaneska > It took me months to save for that ship. And I was on my first level 3 mission[04:57:27] Spectre3353 > i am seriously a super manly man

And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sittingOn the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floorShall be lifted - nevermore!

[04:59:33] Tavala Evaneska > Was it challenging to kill me with a group?[04:59:53] Spectre3353 > a little bit

Just Like Old Times (But With Some New Friends)

When we were suddenly thrust into the reformation of the Python Cartel, I remember feeling a bit unsure and I honestly lacking confidence in our ability to rebuild and sustain a corp of the same level we once had. It was too late for that. People had moved on and we were no longer of the same carefree newbish mentality. So it is with considerable joy that I can look back at the last month and realize how very wrong I was. In the past few weeks we have slowly regained many of the core members who made the original Python Cartel so successful and today it culminated with the reacquisition of Andrea Skye, Apoctasy and TwiceDaSize. While there are still some pilots that have moved on and are not coming back, we now have a huge majority of the original core that made pirating so fun. We might be flying around recon fagging in expensive ships now instead of our tech 1 frigates but otherwise it feels just like old times.

One upside to all of this as well is the new pilots that we have been recruiting. We have only taken a few but the quality has been better than I was expecting. One of our first recruits has had a place near the top of our killboard for a while now, writes a pretty nice blog and just tends to get himself into great situations by being aware and confident and motivated while out there in space. Forced a Myrmidon pilot to eject from his ship while flying a Rifter? Check. Socially engineered a newbie in a Rokh to go to a lowsec belt where we could gank him? Check. Kazaji, you're starting to remind me of... well... me.

Gallente Recons

After months of dedicated training and EFT warrioring and planning and execution, I have completed my skill plan to fly the Gallente recon ships the Lachesis and the Arazu. While the training was really geared towards being able to fly an Arazu, I have found that:

* The Arazu is so damn expensive that I am afraid to undock it, let alone get into any questionable fights with it. After the ship price, rigs and modules are factored in I think it cost me around 130 million ISK.

* The Arazu simply isn't useful in most situations. One of the biggest EWAR advantages that Gallente get is the long range disruptor/scrambler but this gets totally negated by not being able to fit a sensor booster (due to a lack of mids and wanting to fit at least three remote sensor damps) and the targeting delay experienced after uncloaking. Already I am realizing that I will probably never fly this ship unless it is in a very controlled environment where it won't be in danger.

* The Lachesis is a much better ship than I was expecting. Depending on the fit, I can put out an acceptable amount of DPS with an average cruiser sized tank, all while being able to fit a sensor booster and quickly point most ships from over 50KM away. It's still not cheap at about 50 million ISK for the ship before mods/rigs, but in comparison to the Arazu, it is a bargain and can actually fill multiple roles in a gang. While flying it I tend to completely ignore the remote sensor damp bonuses and instead fill my mid slots with modules that assist in tackling and shield tanking.

Aww, Spec, Im touched. What could be a greater honour than being compared to you? :P

On topic, the locking time delay on the Arazu is a good balance to the insane point distance. The Lach, from what Ive seen, is a very effective ship in your hands. Keeping those targets pointed from a safe distance while the fleet warps in is a great thing, and keeping yourself alive while doing so makes it even better.